On the Bus with Mayor Bloomberg

Why should the mayor of New York City be the only person to ride an Israeli bus without fear?

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg came to Jerusalem on Tuesday (Aug. 26) for a nine-hour lightning solidarity trip that included visiting survivors of the recent bus bombing that murdered 21 Israelis, and lighting a candle at the spot where the attack occurred.

He also visited the Western Wall, and then took a ride on bus #2, the route on which the bomber struck. It happens to be the same bus I take home every day from work at Aish.com's offices near the Western Wall. I didn't plan it, but I found myself on the same bus as Mayor Bloomberg -- along with Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, former NYC Mayor Ed Koch, 30 security guards, 40 reporters -- and 10 other regular passengers like me crammed in the middle. [And I had to pay for this ride?]

I told the Associated Press reporter who interviewed me how I thought it was terrific that the mayor came to show his support, and that everyone should do the same. I would have told Mayor Bloomberg directly, but the cameraman's elbow pressing down on my chest -- not to mention those 30 security guards -- prevented me from doing so.

When I got home late and told my wife -- who has pleaded with me to stop taking buses -- about my surreal bus ride, she was relieved. "I was hoping you would end up taking that bus home. It's the only one I knew for sure wouldn't be bombed."

She had a point. With all those mayors on the bus -- not to mention the 30 security guards -- we were totally safe.

Then it hit me: why am I or my neighbor or some guy named Mayer any less worthy of a safe ride than Mayor Bloomberg? Is Israeli blood so cheap? Shouldn't we all be able to feel safe and secure riding the bus home?

Part of the problem is how we define victory over the terrorists. I hear it all the time: if you're afraid to go out for dinner, to ride the bus, or to send your kids on an outing, then you're giving in to terror and letting the terrorists win.

Mayor Bloomberg's ride on the #2 bus was meant to send a message to Arab killers. "You cannot let terrorists win," he said.

I said the same thing to the AP reporter who asked how I felt traveling on the bus. "You have to carry on living, otherwise you're giving in to terror."

On further thought, perhaps the truth is exactly the opposite. Carrying on with normal life as if nothing really happened is giving in to terror. Just imagine if after last week's horrific suicide bombing 500,000 Israeli citizens said, "Enough! We are no longer taking the bus. We are no longer going downtown. We are no longer sending our kids to school -- until we can feel as safe as Michael Bloomberg."

That would be a powerful statement of our unwillingness to accept the terror -- and our government's reaction would be very different from what it is now.

Israelis refer to this relentless onslaught as the "matzav", which means "the situation" in Hebrew. Caroline Glick of the Jerusalem Post points out the danger in this label. A situation is something we learn to tolerate; we get used to it. After a bombing or a drive-by shooting, we're shaken for a few hours, at most for a few days. [The daily failed attempts at murdering our people no longer even register.] Yes, it's terrible, but we need to move on and live with it.

By accepting the "situation," we are giving in to terror. We need to start calling it what it really is: a war.

By accepting the "situation," we are giving in to terror. We need to start labeling this for what it really is: a war. At stake is not our willingness to take the bus; at stake is our very survival on our ancient homeland.

Wars need to be fought and won with the conviction that victory is the only option. They are not tolerated.

As Jews, we recognize that our response to this ongoing war of terror needs to be not only in the physical realm; the underlying spiritual causes need to be addressed as well. The physical world reflects the spiritual realm and can be used as a window to understand the specific areas of growth we need to work on.

After a terrorist attack, we frequently fall into a similar trap vis-à-vis our spiritual growth, by viewing our personal shortcomings as a "matzav", a situation that yes, we need to deal with, but all too often learn how to tolerate. Perhaps we feel a fleeting sense of urgency to work on genuine change -- a brief insight, a moment of inspiration to take on an area of growth and become truly different -- but then it fades and we slip back to the same negative habits. We remain the same and get accustomed to our personal situation, no matter how ineffective it may be.

As a response to last week's bombing, let's start calling the need to tackle our personal shortcomings a "war" -- a war against our yetzer hara, our lower selves, that must be fought with the conviction and dedication to win. No more toleration.

It is the beginning of the month of Elul, the period of introspection leading up to the High Holidays. Let's not allow ourselves to go back to "normal life" and the way things were before the bombing. It's time to say, "Enough! I'm going to work on being different." With the merit of this collective spiritual growth, may the Almighty bring true peace to the region and to our own inner lives. And may there be no need for those 30 security guards on Mayor Bloomberg's next visit to Israel.

Visitor Comments: 14

(14)
renee,
September 23, 2003 12:00 AM

bus bombings

I was in Tel Aviv when Mayor Bloomberg was in Jerusalem. It was my 46th trip to Israel. A solution would be to have someone use a metal detector on all the passengers before they get on the bus. This should be done several feet away from the bus. Egged seems to be too cheap to spend the shekels for metal detectors for every bus. Burying the dead is more expensive in many ways!

(13)
Karina,
September 6, 2003 12:00 AM

Who is more important?

Thank you for the article, it was very inspirational. It is upsetting to know that society acts as though someone’s life is more important then another. Enough is enough as they say, and today it’s enough.

(12)
tziporah mandel,
September 2, 2003 12:00 AM

great article very interesting thank you

(11)
Steven,
September 1, 2003 12:00 AM

Proven that it's still worth going to Israel.

I too am going to be in Israel soon, will land in Tel-Aviv on 1st of October. We all know that we should not separate from Israel and one way of showing it is to either spend money there or just go which is better. We only have to convince ourselves as to what's more important, a vacation in Florida or in Jerusalem. It's been five years since my last visit and honestly I don't know what I will run into other than my friends awaiting me at the airport. There is one thing for sure, I will love every minute of it.

(10)
Anonymous,
September 1, 2003 12:00 AM

Yes, it's a war!!

Terrific article with an oh-so-valid point. Stoicisim and life as usual are reprehensible. Of course this is a war! The entire country should go on strike until we reclaim Yericho, Sh'chem, and the rest of the country by eliminating those who seek to annihilate us.

(9)
Anonymous,
August 31, 2003 12:00 AM

As stated above,brilliant,cogent,well said. Thank you!

(8)
Judi Prior,
August 31, 2003 12:00 AM

I am in agreement.

Thank you for expressing so well thoughts and feelings that I have been experiencing. It is my belief that the government officials of Israel as well as those of the United States continue to try and balance in the middle of the fence to appease as many as possible for purely political reasons. I believe it is time for the people in our two countries to stand together and declare that it is time to do away with half measures and win the war ( and it is war)that is being waged. It is time for all of us commit ourselves to do "whatever it takes" until this war is won!

(7)
shimshon,
August 31, 2003 12:00 AM

Brilliant!
This is a truly inspirational piece which I hope will encourage it's readers to react with real, concrete, and long-lasting steps toward an imporved future for our people.

(6)
Anonymous,
August 31, 2003 12:00 AM

business as usual as a positive?

I appreciated your insight. The question begs as to where the line between business as usual and reacting full force to the murderous campaigns by the Islamist declared war against the Jewish people gets drawn? Stop full force those positioned to perpetrate further horrors. This has not happened as it must - in full - because of an abeyance to political considerations which has instead enabled the spread of Islamist terrorism - indeed emboldened its activity of evil and impetus of destruction world wide.

Accountability in a democracy requires a keeping to the highest of standards its public servants which includes all officials from the democratically elected Prime Minister of a country down. And policies which don`t work - such as the Oslo Peace Accords - and the thinking which engendered it - dismissed. By what right do Government officials who engineered and brought to bare a failed policy, misguided agreement irrelevant to decades long known realities, such as the Oslo Peace Accords, remain influencing present efforts, nee, struggles in dealing with its horrific consequences?

(5)
Anonymous,
August 29, 2003 12:00 AM

Brilliant!

Really enjoyed this article. Although Rabbi Coopersmith didn’t
get to speak to Bloomberg directly, maybe the mayor read about it
in The New York Times, which published Coopersmith’s quote.

(4)
David Arenson,
August 29, 2003 12:00 AM

Should we take the bus?

Excellent points raised. So, are you still going to take the bus? How about starting a campaign, with a "NO MORE" slogan? Once we accept the situation, as you correctly point out, we are in some respect, giving in to terror.

(3)
Anonymous,
August 29, 2003 12:00 AM

Article about New York's Mayor

This is my first time visiting this website. I must agree with the author of this article. This article is AWESOME and I have foward it to friends...

(2)
Anonymous,
August 28, 2003 12:00 AM

Amazing!

This article was written very nicely & the message is very clear!

(1)
Sharon Kelso,
August 28, 2003 12:00 AM

Kudo's

Shalom, I read the article you wrote conerning the terrorist and the route the bus took (#2). I agree with you completely. If no action is taken by the Government then perhaps Mayor Bloomberg could daily ride with you???

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...